Lotus ScanHow to Scan and Track Reserved List MTG Cards
A step-by-step guide to help you scan and track reserved list mtg cards quickly and accurately.
The Reserved List is a set of roughly 572 cards that Wizards of the Coast committed in 1996 to never reprint, and that promise has largely held, making these cards genuinely supply-constrained in a way that almost nothing else in the hobby is. Underground Sea regularly trades for $400 to $600 depending on condition. Volcanic Island sits at $300 to $500. Gaea's Cradle has exceeded $500 for near-mint copies, and Lion's Eye Diamond commands $400 or more largely on Legacy demand. Because these cards date from the early 1990s, they have old-bordered card frames, unique wear patterns, and varying condition grades that significantly affect their value. A Lightly Played Underground Sea might be worth $380 while a Near Mint copy of the same card could fetch $550 or more. Lotus Scan's ability to identify old-bordered cards and track current market prices makes it a practical tool for anyone building, maintaining, or investing in a Reserved List collection.
Step-by-Step Guide
Identify which cards are on the Reserved List
The Reserved List is publicly available and Scryfall has a filter that lets you search specifically for Reserved List cards using the query "is:reserved". The most valuable Reserved List categories are the Power Nine, the original dual lands (Tropical Island, Tundra, Underground Sea, and nine others), and high-demand Legacy and Vintage staples like Lion's Eye Diamond, Gaea's Cradle, Mox Diamond, and Wheel of Fortune. Knowing these categories helps you prioritize which cards to verify and track first.
Tip: If you are buying Reserved List cards from a collection or at a store, cross-reference with Scryfall's Reserved List filter before paying. Not every old-bordered card is on the list, and not every valuable card is old-bordered.
Handle old-border cards carefully before scanning
Reserved List cards from Alpha, Beta, Unlimited, and the early sets like Arabian Nights, Antiquities, and Legends are fragile in ways that modern cards are not. The card stock is thinner, corners chip more easily, and even aggressive sleeving can leave marks. Before scanning, hold the card by the edges and use a clean microfiber cloth to gently remove fingerprints from the face. Lotus Scan works best on old-border cards when you scan in good natural light rather than under harsh artificial lighting, which can create glare on the textured card surface.
Tip: Keep Reserved List cards in double-sleeved penny sleeves and hard cases whenever possible. Even minor handling damage can move a card from Near Mint to Lightly Played, costing you $50 to $100 on a dual land.
Scan each card and document condition accurately
When scanning Reserved List cards, note the condition honestly in your Lotus Scan collection. The community generally grades old-bordered cards slightly more leniently than equivalent modern card wear since minor corner whitening is expected on 30-year-old cards. However, play marks, surface scratches, or heavy edge wear still push a card into Played territory and significantly reduce both buylist prices and trade value. Document the specific condition in your notes so you can accurately represent the card when trading.
Tip: Consider getting your most valuable Reserved List cards professionally graded by PSA or BGS if they appear to be in exceptional condition. A PSA 9 Underground Sea has sold for significantly more than raw Near Mint copies.
Track price history to identify long-term trends
Reserved List staples do not follow the same price patterns as rotating Standard cards. They tend to appreciate slowly and steadily over years with occasional sharp spikes when a Legacy or Vintage deck using them becomes newly dominant. Use Lotus Scan to monitor price history on your Reserved List holdings and establish a baseline for what normal price movement looks like for each card. Underground Sea has historically appreciated roughly 10 to 15 percent per year on average across the past decade, while more obscure Reserved List cards can sit flat for years before spiking on Commander demand.
Set price alerts for significant market movements
Reserved List cards can spike dramatically when a Legacy or Vintage event shows a new dominant strategy, or when a Commander deck prominently features a Reserved List card. Set price alerts in Lotus Scan on every Reserved List card you own above $50 in value. If Gaea's Cradle moves from $500 to $600 in a week, that is useful information both for valuing your collection and for deciding whether to sell into the spike. Reserved List spike corrections are slower than regular card spikes because the supply is genuinely constrained, giving you more time to act.
Tip: Monitor MTGGoldfish's Reserved List price tracking alongside Lotus Scan alerts. MTGGoldfish shows historical price charts going back years, which provides context that short-term price movement alone cannot give you.
Document your collection for insurance purposes
A Reserved List collection worth $5,000 or more should be documented for home insurance purposes. Lotus Scan's scanning history and collection value tracking creates a timestamped record of what you own and what it was worth at the time of scanning. Export this data and store it somewhere separate from your physical cards. A cloud backup of your collection data combined with photographs of the individual cards creates the paper trail an insurance claim requires. Many homeowner and renter policies cover collectibles only up to $1,000 to $2,500 without a specific rider.
Make It Easier with Lotus Scan
Lotus Scan for iPhone simplifies this entire process with AI-powered card recognition, real-time price tracking, and intuitive collection management. Just point your camera and scan.
Pro Tips
- Not all Reserved List cards are good investments. Cards with minimal Legacy, Vintage, or Commander play often sit flat for years. Focus your holdings on dual lands and cards with multi-format demand.
- Store Reserved List cards in a cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight. UV exposure yellows the card back over time and can affect grade on cards you intend to eventually sell.
- Buylist prices for Reserved List cards vary enormously between stores. Card Kingdom, SCG, and ABU Games often have competitive Reserved List buylists. Check all three before consigning.
- The EDH Rules Committee occasionally unbans Reserved List cards that were previously banned in Commander. When this happens, price spikes can be immediate and sharp.
- If you are spending over $200 on a Reserved List card from a private seller, ask for a high-resolution scan of the card face and back before completing the transaction to check for counterfeits.